there were still

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "there were still" can be used in written English.
It is used to indicate that a particular state or condition remained after a certain event or action. For example: "Although the family had lost their home, there were still belongings they could salvage."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There were still challenges.

The New York Times

There were still problems.

The New York Times

There were still closed circles.

The New Yorker

There were still formidable hurdles.

The New Yorker

Yet there were still divides.

The Washington Post

Yes, there were still some issues.

Stanford University

There were still 150 armed men.

Columbia University

Nevertheless, there were still anomalies.

The Guardian

"There were still terrorist threats".

The New York Times - Style

There were still some jars.

The New Yorker

There were still only six in 1990.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "there were still" to highlight persistence or resilience in the face of adversity or change. For example, "Despite the economic downturn, there were still companies that thrived."

Common error

Avoid using "there was still" when referring to multiple items. "There were still" is used for plural subjects, while "there was still" is for singular ones. For example, use "there were still issues" not "there was still issues".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there were still" functions as an existential marker indicating the continued presence or existence of something, particularly after an event or change that might have implied its absence. Ludwig AI confirms this is grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Academia

13%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "there were still" is a common and grammatically correct construction used to denote the continuation or persistence of something after an event or change. As Ludwig AI suggests, the phrase functions primarily as an existential marker, emphasizing that something remained despite potential alterations. The contexts in which it appears most frequently are news and media, followed by academic settings. While alternatives exist, such as "yet there remained" or "some continued to exist", the original phrase maintains a versatile and direct approach for indicating persistence. Remembering to use the correct plural/singular forms (there were/was) is a key point to avoid common errors. All of these nuances considered "there were still" is a useful and versatile construction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there continued to be

Directly indicates continuation, maintaining a very similar meaning.

some were still present

Replaces 'remained' with 'were still present', emphasizing the state of being present.

yet there remained

Emphasizes the continuation from a more formal perspective.

some continued to exist

Highlights the existence aspect, making it slightly different from the original.

even then, there existed

Highlights that something was present even at a specific point in time, shifting focus to existence.

but some remained

Focuses on the surviving portion, slightly altering the emphasis.

despite that, they continued to be

Emphasizes the aspect of ongoing existence in spite of challenges.

nonetheless, some persisted

Similar to 'but some remained', but with a tone of resilience or determination.

they were yet around

An informal and colloquial way of expressing the persistence.

a few were ongoing

Highlights action in progress or the continuation of an effect.

FAQs

How can I use "there were still" in a sentence?

You can use "there were still" to indicate that something continued to exist or be present despite a change or event. For example, "Even after the storm, "there were still" signs of life".

What does "there were still" imply?

"There were still" implies that a situation or condition persisted after a certain point, often after an event that might have been expected to change it. It suggests resilience or the incomplete nature of a change.

What are some alternatives to using "there were still"?

Alternatives include phrases like "yet there remained", "even then, there existed", or "some continued to exist", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "there was still" instead of "there were still"?

The correctness depends on the subject. "There was still" is used with singular nouns (e.g., "there was still hope"), while ""there were still"" is used with plural nouns (e.g., ""there were still" problems").